Agencies

• There is no peeking around when students focus on deepening poses, stretching muscles

San Francisco, Dec 13 (mb): For millions of Americans, the ancient practice of yoga is a daily ritual. While some prefer to practice traditional styles, others seek out edgier and different practices.

In San Francisco, a handful of practitioners are breaking with tradition and adding a whole ‘nude’ twist to the spiritual experience with Naked Yoga.

The birthplace of Coed Naked Yoga is the One Taste Urban Retreat Centre, where the motto is “Making your body a pleasurable place to be.”

Founder and co-owner Nicole Deadone says the class is meant to be transformative allowing students to find a deeper opening of their hearts and minds.

She says there is a part of human beings that individuals are taught to close off, that opens up naturally in this type of environment.

Deadone points out clearly that the class is not sexual, rather, the idea is to associate being naked with the challenge of accepting one’s own body.

The 90 minute class is full to capacity. Students walk into the studio and begin to enter the experience from the minute they undress.

Deadone, who is also a student in the class, says that after the first 15 minutes, everyone forgets that they’re naked and is completely immersed in the practice.

Asked about what she says to sceptic yogis, Deadone admits that she too wasn’t sure at first. But now, she says confidently, I tell them to “just try it” so they can see for themselves.